Safety Kenny Phillips hoping to avoid fines this season

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leading 27-16 in the third quarter of Sunday's game, Giants S Kenny Phillips popped Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson with his shoulder pad just as QB Josh Freeman's pass was arriving. The ball was dislodged, Jackson slammed into the turf and Phillips popped right back up.Did Phillips launch himself or not?

“I peaked around," Phillips said. "Whenever you see a big hit, the flag usually comes out no matter if it was a legal hit or an illegal hit. The flag is going to come."The flag never came, and CB Corey Webster intercepted the next pass, which helped the Giants to a 41-34 comeback win.

That doesn't mean Phillips is out of the woods because nonpenalized offenses can still draw a fine. The University of Miami product doesn't remember how many times he was fined last season. All he remembers is that it was more than three.

“I got a lot more than that,” he said. “I was almost playing for free last year. I'm trying to avoid that again this year, but we'll see.”

Wednesday is usually the day when fines are handed out, and since the Giants will be traveling for Thursday's game in Carolina on Wednesday, there's a chance Phillips could get some bad news before the flight. Even if he tries to avoid the mail for a few days, Phillips knows that can't stop the NFL from fining him.

“A few times they tricked me,” he said. “Nothing would be here on Wednesday, but Thursday I'll have one. I got so used to it.”

Phillips believes the hit on Jackson was legal (“I didn't touch his head&rdquo, but while he thinks he dragged a foot, there's still the chance it can be ruled that he launched himself.

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